Monday, December 8, 2014

Top 10 Golf Travel Trends 2015

Golfers love to travel. In fact, more golfers took a
domestic trip in 2014 than skiers, tennis players and sailors combined.

To get you ready for 2015, here are 10 trends to assist you in golf travel planning:

1. Emerging Destinations—For those who’ve already played
Ireland and Scotland, European destinations like Italy and France are
aggressively promoting golf vacations. Trying to entice golfers who are also
foodies, Italian and French golf tour operators tout their exceptional cuisine
and wine, which visiting golfers can enjoy once the last putt falls for the
day. Many new golf courses are popping up in Thailand, China, Korea and Vietnam
and they’re also vying strongly for golf vacationers. Australia and New Zealand
are popular new frontiers, as well.

2. Bucket-List Courses—As Baby Boomers retire in greater
numbers they have more time to pursue courses on their Bucket Lists. At the top
of most lists is The Old Course in St. Andrews, Pebble Beach Golf Links,
Pinehurst No. 2, Royal Dornoch (Scotland), Royal County Down (Ireland) and
Royal Melbourne (Australia).

3. Going Mobile—An increasing number of online travel
bookings will be done with mobile devices. According to the World Travel Market
Global Trends Report, nearly 35% of bookings will be mobile oriented by 2018.
Look for the Apple Watch and other smartwatches to make a big impact when it
goes on sale in 2015. A few airlines, travel companies and hotels have already
released smartwatch apps that allow users to book flights, download boarding
passes, search for the best holiday deals and act as room keys.

4. History with Modern Amenities—Golf vacationers want to
experience history, but not in a musty and dusty environment. Discerning luxury
golf travelers want all the modern day techno amenity candy like high-speed
Internet service, Ipod docking stations and flat panel televisions as well as
spas, fitness centers and luxury linens. Historical hotels such The Breakers in
Palm Beach, Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina and The Broadmoor in Colorado
Springs, Colorado, The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin and Williamsburg Inn
in Virginia have refurbished and upgraded their properties to appeal to the
luxury amenity sensitivities of their guests.

5. Food and Wine Appreciation—Everybody is a “Foodie”. Lots
of golfers watch the Food Network as much as they do the Golf Channel. Off-the-course, golfers are
increasingly seeking innovative, chef inspired delicacies, farm-to-table
restaurants, healthy and gluten free choices, craft beers and fine wines. Wine
goes well with golf, too. Some of the most desirable wine regions with great
golf include Cape Town, South Africa, the Bordeaux in southwest France, Napa
Valley, California and Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand.

6. Couples Trips—The buddy trip is still popular, but as more
couples retire, they'll travel more and increasingly play more golf together. To enhance the golf travel experience, activities like winery tours and cooking classes will be incorporated in itineraries.

7. Alternative Golf Experiences at Resorts—In an effort to attract more
Millennials to golf, a growing number of resorts are offering Footgolf. What is
it? In Footgolf, the hole on the green is expanded to 21 inches to accommodate
a soccer ball, players tally up their score like golf and it only takes about
two hours to complete a round. Resorts offering Footgolf include Crystal
Springs Resort in Sussex County, New Jersey, French Lick Resort in French Lick,
Indiana, TreeTops Resort in Gaylord, Michigan and the Westin Hilton Head Island
Resort & Spa’s Port Royal Golf club.

8. Electronic Golf Hangouts—The latest rage for those who
like to swing the sticks away from the golf course is Topgolf, a golf
entertainment complex. In a plush sports bar style environment, players hit a golf ball
containing a personalized microchip into a series of targets ranging from 20 to
240 yards away. Topgolf has locations in Scottsdale, Arizona, Atlanta, Georgia, Chicago,
Illinois, Dallas, Austin and Houston in Texas and Alexandria, Virginia.

9. Putting Courses at Resorts—To entertain golfers in-between
rounds and give non-golfers an entertaining amenity to participate in the game,
resorts are offering 18-hole putting courses laid out like mini golf layouts. Topping the menu of options
are the Punchbowl, a 100,000 square-foot putting courses at Bandon Dunes in
Oregon designed by Tom Doak; the Thistle Dhu Putting Course at Pinehurst Resort
in North Carolina; Dunes Putting Course at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in
Destin, Fla.; the Sawtooths Putting Course at Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley,
Idaho; the 30,000 square foot Seaside Putting Course at Hilton Waikoloa Village
on the Big Island in Hawaii; and the 350-yard long putting course at Salishan
Spa & Golf Resort in Gleneden Beach, Oregon.10. House Exchange--With easy access to several major Internet sites, more golf travelers will consider house swapping. Retired Baby Boomers can exchange a stay at their primary or vacation home for an abode in a golf rich area. Just bring your clubs, golf clothes and a tootbrush and, voila, you've got a great place to reside temporarily while someone else is staying and watching your house during your extended stay away from home.